AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE POEMS ENTITLED CLASSIC POETRY SERIES BY WILLIAM BLAKE

Transcription

1 AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE POEMS ENTITLED CLASSIC POETRY SERIES BY WILLIAM BLAKE A THESIS Submitted to the English Education Department of Syekh Nurjati State Institute for Islamic Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Islamic Scholar Degree In English Education (S. Pd. I) Arranged By: MINHATUL MAULA Reg. Number: ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF TARBIYAH FACULTY OF SYEKH NURJATI STATE INSTITUTE FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES (IAIN) CIREBON 2013

2 ABSTRACT MINHATUL MAULA: AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE POEMS ENTITLED CLASSIC POETRY SERIES BY WILLIAM BLAKE In literature, there are several models of literary works, one of them is poem. Poem is the most literary works contain elements of beauty. This can be seen from the characteristics of poem that use figurative language, choice of words and messages are expressed by the author. Those characteristics are difficult to be understood by people in learning a poem. Therefore, this issue is very important to be studied and analyzed. The aims of this research are to know the types of figurative language are used in the poems especially in collection of William Blake s poems, and the messages are generated from that poem. The theory which used in this research is the theory of Giroux, it is that Figurative language is language which departs from the straight-forward use of words. It creates a special effect, clarifies an idea, and makes writing more colorful and forceful. Accordingly, there are 14 kinds of figurative languages; they are Alliteration, Allusions, Hyperbole, Irony, Litotes, Metaphor, Metonymy, Onomatopoeia, Paradox, Personification, Pun, Simile, Synecdoche, and Symbol. This research is qualitative research. The analysis of research on a book about William Blake's poetry collection, which numbered approximately more than one hundred of poems and the writer take three of poems as a sample. Techniques of collecting data use library research and content analysis as the technique of analyzing data. The results of research showed that from three poems as the sample of collection of William Blake s poems, there are 11 kinds of figurative language are used in the collection of William Blake's poem; they are Alliteration, Hyperbole, Irony, Litotes, Metaphor, Metonymy, Paradox, Personification, Pun, Simile, and Synecdoche. And the most commonly used is Hyperbole. There are many difference message are expressed by the William Blake in every stanza of those poems. There are 11 kinds of figurative language are used in the collection of William Blake's poem; they are Alliteration, Hyperbole, Irony, Litotes, Metaphor, Metonymy, Paradox, Personification, Pun, Simile, and Synecdoche. And the most commonly used is Hyperbole. From a variety of figurative language used in the poem, there are many different messages that can be taken from that poems, one of them is people should not compare our situation with the others, and belittle themselves, because everyone is same, which distinguishes humans from the other is moral in God's view.

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4 PREFACE Bismillahirrohmanirrahim In the name of Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful. All praises and thanks belong to Allah who has taught writing by pen. With His Mercury permission, the writer has been able to finish her thesis. May safety and invocation be given to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) his family and his followers up to the end of the word. The thesis entitled in AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE POEMS ENTITLED CLASSIC POETRY SERIES BY WILLIAM BLAKE is presented to fulfill of requirements to achieve the degree of Islamic scholar in education at English Department of Tarbiyah of the State for Islamic Studies (IAIN) Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. In composing this thesis, there are so many people who have participated, helped and advised directly or indirectly. So in this opportunity, the writer would like to convey her sincerely propound thankfulness to: 1. Prof. Dr. H. Maksum Mukhtar, MA, the Rector of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. 2. Dr. Saefudin Zuhri, M.Ag, Dean of Tarbiyah Faculty of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. 3. Dr. Hj. Huriyah Saleh, M.Pd, the Head of English Education Department of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, and as the first supervisor. 4. Farouk Imam Arrasyid, M. M.Pd I, the second supervisor. i

5 5. Eti Subernati, S. Sos, as the leader of Library at IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. 6. All of lecturers of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. 7. All of my family. 8. Everyone that cannot be mentioned one by one who has helped her to finish this thesis. The writer realizes that this thesis is still far from being perfect and there are many mistakes either in the arrangement or in the content of this thesis. Hence, suggestion and criticism from the readers are necessary to make it more perfect in the future. Finally the writer hopes this thesis will be some valuables to the readers, especially for the writer herself and for the English Education Department of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. Cirebon, July th 2013 The researcher ii

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE OF TITTLE... ABSTRACT... APPROVAL... RATIFICATION... OFFICIAL NOTE... LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY... DEDICATION... AUTHOBIOGRAPHY... MOTTO... PREFACE... TABLE OF CONTENT... LIST OF TABLES... LIST OF PICTURES... LIST OF APPENDICES... i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xii xiv xv xvi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION... 1 A. The Background of the Problem... 1 B. The Identification of the Problem... 5 C. The Limitation of the Research... 6 D. The Questions of the Research... 6 E. The Aims of the Research... 6 F. The Use of the Research CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FOUNDATION... 9 A. The Nature of Literature The Definition of Literature The Purposes of Literature The Importance of Literature... 14

7 B. The Nature of Poems The Definition of Poem The Elements of Poem The Kinds of Poem C. The Nature of Figurative Language The Definitions of Figurative Language The Characteristics if Figurative Language The Kinds of Figurative Language D. Biography of William Blake E. The Example of William Blake s poem F. Previous Study CHAPTER III Methodology of Research A. The Objective of the Research B. The Object and Time of the Research C. The Method of Research D. The Sample of Data E. The Source of Data F. The Techniques of Collecting Data G. The Techniques of Analyzing Data CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS A. Figurative Language are Used in the Poems B. The Most Figurative Language is Found in the Poems C. The Messages Expressed by Figurative Language D. Discussion CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION A. Conclusion B. Suggestion BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX... 70

8 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter will present the background of the problem, the identification of problem, the limitation of the problem, the questions of the research, the aims of the research, and the use of the research. A. The Background of the Problem Language is a tool to interact on a social being and a way to express their feelings in daily life, language as means of communication play very important role in social relationship among human being. That opinion as Lindsay and Knight explanation (2010: 27) that language is a tool we use to communicate with other people. People can encode against what they want to say which consists of various components. Douglas (2000: 155) defined that Language is a system of arbitrary conventionalized vocal, written or gesture symbol that enable members of a given community to communicate intelligibly with others. According to Hornby (2000: 721) language is a way for someone to communicate and interact in speech and writing are used by everyone from the various regions that have customs and traditions of each, it is a certain style of writing and speaking are used by humans in the form of sounds and words that aims to communicate, it is also called as a way to express ideas, feelings, and concept of someone who applied by using movements, symbols, sounds, and also the symbols and rules are used in certain terms that exist in a computer and other electronic devices. Same with Hornby, Wardhaugh (1998: 23) also explained that language is a system or a way for someone to communicate and interact in speech and writing are used by everyone from the various regions that have customs and traditions of each. In other hand, there is also which interpreted that language is a system of sound symbols arbitrators is generated by said means humans and used by people to communicate, cooperation, and self-identification, Bastian (2011: 11).

9 2 According to Rastafara (2011: 10) there are many functions of language in society such as a tool to communicate with fellow human beings, for working with fellow human beings, and to identify them. Different from Hornby s explanation, Tood (2006: 6) defined that a language is a sign that a person or a group of individuals to communicate and interact as social beings. Based on some explanations above, the writer can conclude that language is one of the most important things in communication and it is used as a tool of communication among the nations in all over the world. It is also has many forms and variations in every region. And as an international language, English is very important and has many interrelationships with various aspects of life owned by human being. In Indonesia, English considered as the first foreign language and taught formally from elementary school up to the university level. Human beings as one of the three alive-creatures besides animal and plant have a particular ability, which makes him so special that dominates the others. They are able to adapt, to survive and to analyze the universe phenomenon, which make their quality of life better and better since the past. They have the whole ability because God has granted them brain and mind. Their curiosities are so great that they learn more and more about everything that exist in the world. Moreover, human beings are considered as a perfect god because it has many advantages. Something that makes them more special than the others is that they know how to express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. The way to express ideas, feelings, thoughts and their emotions can be applied or embodied in various forms. One of them is that they can express it in the form of an article, either in the form of a written story or just a short like in novels, short stories, poems, rhymes, songs, and others. By using their mind they produced an expression of their feeling, emotion and thought to communicate with others. And this result of literature is called a literary work. Some examples of literary works it could be a hobby to each individual.

10 3 Actually, there are many definitions of literature that mentioned by the experts and some dictionaries. Longman Dictionary (2003: 828) writes the definitions of literature as works, plays, poems, etc. that people think have value and as works, such as these that are studies as a subject. Another definition mentions that literature is one of the great creative and universal means of communicating the emotional, spiritual, or intellectual concerns of mankind (The Encyclopedia of Americana, vol. 22:559). It seems that something human being does deals literature, especially in communicating. To communicate to each other may be done by a means, such as by a letter, speaking directly, by phone etc. Even something they wrote or said, no matter what its content, could be called a literature. Well, in this life, in purpose or not in purpose, they have involved in a literature. According to Moleong as quoted by Spadlex (2000:13) explained that literature is the knowledge which is earned by human beings arise conduct and it is used to reflect and express experience. According to Koesnosoebroto (1988: 10), people read literature because of hunger of information or amusement or solace because an appetite for truth that seem to grow by what it feeds on. Men read to discover themselves and their world to assess their special roles in the universe, to learn the meaning of the personal struggles in which they are engaged. In other words, we want to share experience. Literature expands language awareness. Asking learners to examine sophisticated or non standard examples of language (which can occur in literary texts) makes them more aware of the norms of language use (Widdowson quoted by Lazar 1993). While according to Nandi (1996: 127), stated that Literature is all the writing of a country, writing distinguished for beauty of from expression as distinct from works dealing with positive knowledge. Thus, from some those definitions of literature, it is necessary to know why people study literature. There are some reasons that cause people to learn literature. As explained by Koesnosoebroto (1988: 11) that the readers study

11 4 literary works because they want to learn about another country, to appear well educated, to pass the examination and to make themselves better people. In literature, there are several models of literary works, one of them is poem. Poem is the most literary works contain elements of beauty. This can be seen from the characteristics of poem that use figurative language, choice of words and messages are expressed by the author. Those characteristics are difficult to be understood by people in learning a poem. Therefore, this issue is very important to be studied and analyzed. According to Aminuddin (1995: 134) that quoted from McCauley, Hudson (1965) said that: Puisi adalah salah satu cabang sastra yang menggunakan kata-kata sebagai media penyampaian untuk membuahkan ilusi dan imajinasi, seperti halnya lukisan yang menggunakan garis dan warna dalam menggambarkan gagasan pelukisnya. (A poem is a branch of literature that uses these words as a delivery media to produce an illusion and imagination, as well as paintings that using line and color to illustrate the idea of the artist). Based on the ancient Greeks, poems had three departments-lyric, dramatic, and epic. In lyric poems the author was concerned with expressing certain emotions love, hate, pity, fear, relying all the time on the power of his words. In dramatic poems, he did not have to rely quite so much on words because there was action, a plot, human character. In epic poems he could tell a tale-again making use of character and action, and there perhaps his skill as a narrator and his constructive power would be more important than the suggestive qualities of words. Lyrical poem is the only kind of poems left Burgess (1950: 7). Based on the Burgess s explanation, so that, to analyze a poem in a study or paper there must be minimally two elements that support each other, such as tone and metaphor/figurative language. According to Davies (2002: 22) stated tone and metaphor are two significant elements and very needed in a poetry or poem. Tone

12 5 consists of the attitude of the speaker or writer toward his subject matter. It involves practice working with the other elements-especially under-and overstatement, language, irony, imagery, the meanings and connotations (implications) of word-poems to judge the tone of a poem. Meanwhile, metaphor is a comparison that is not made explicitly-that is not made clearly and directly and is not made with clues such as like or as. It is instead, an indirect comparison between two things that are basically unlike. And here also explain that the other elements of poems are denotation and connotation, Davies (2002). The object of writer takes a title An Analysis of Figurative Language on the Poems Entitled Classic Poetry Series by William Blake is to analysis the content of poem and understanding the meaning and the kinds of figurative language on that poem. B. The Identification of the Problem The identification of the problem is required to give the clarification about the problem which is will be investigated. And then the researcher arrangers identification of the problem referred to the background of the problem above, they are: 1. The Field of the Research The field study from this research is literature. 2. The Kinds of the Problem This study entitled AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE POEMS ENTITLED CLASSIC POETRY SERIES BY WILLIAM BLAKE. The researcher undeline several some problems to be identified in this study, they are: 1) The types of figurative language are used in the poems of William Blake. 2) The most figurative language is found in the poems of William Blake.

13 6 3) The messages are expressed by the meaning of figurative language in William Blake s poems. 3. The Main Problem After the researcher done observation, the researcher can conclude that there are some problems in which will be investigated and analyzed that had become the main problem in this research. The main problem in this research is people s difficulties in understanding and determining figurative language in the poems. C. The Limitation of the Problem In this study, the researcher focuses on observation and analysis of figurative language that used in the poems Classic Poetry Series by Wiilliam Blake. The sources data of the research are all the verses that contain figurative language in the poems, and the meaning of the poems Classic Poetry Series by Wiilliam Blake. The verses/lines in the poems became the main focuses whom researcher is going analyze. D. The Questions of the Research In this research, based on the background of the problem that has explained, so, there are three questions of the research which can be identified by research are as follows: 1. What types of figurative language are used in the poems of William Blake? 2. What is the most figurative language found in the poems of William Blake? 3. How the messages are expressed by the meaning of figurative language in William Blake s poems? E. The Aims of the Research In this research, there are three aims of the research which can be identified by researcher. The aims of the research are as follows: 1. To know the types of figurative language are used in the poems of William Blake.

14 7 2. To know the most figurative language is found in the poems of William Blake. 3. To know the messages are expressed by figurative language in the William Blake s poems. F. The Use of the Research The use of the research theoretically is the result of this research can provide some benefits. As for the benefits that can be described from this research include: 1. Academic benefits With this research is expected can to add references to science-related educational institutions that related to Literature analysis about figurative language, and also can be used as a comparison in conducting research in the future. 2. Practical benefits a. For students It can add knowledge and understanding of the literature especially in knowing and understanding the meaning and figurative language in a poem. Besides that, in this study the students can know more about the process of English learning in developing students' knowledge of literature, especially knowing more about figurative language in the poem. b. For researchers It can increase knowledge and experience in the field especially English in education that related to the analysis of literature and figurative language in a literary work, especially in a poem. c. For Society With this research, people are expected to enjoy the content and meaning of poem, they can animate the story in the poem. From this research is also expected can provide more information about literature; people can be immovable for more expression to produce a literary work and to participate in developing it. Besides that, this research is expected to increase the reader s ability in understanding the figurative language

15 8 through analyzing the poem. In this case, the reader not only read poem but also know what the contents of the poems especially the figurative language.

16 9 CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FOUNDATION This chapter is a theoretical foundation devoted to reviewing some of the relevant theories and the study of literature, figurative language, poems, the biography of William Blake and the kinds of previous study which will be obtained by collecting the various theories of experts to get an idea which is closely related to the problems discussed by the researchers. A. The Nature of Literature 1. The Definition of Literature There are many definitions of literature that mentioned by the experts and some dictionaries. Longman Dictionary (2003: 828) writes the definitions of literature as works, plays, poems, etc. that people think have value and as works, such as these that are studies as a subject. Another definition mentions that literature is one of the great creative and universal means of communicating the emotional, spiritual, or intellectual concerns of mankind (The Encyclopedia of Americana, vol. 22:559). It seems that something human being does deals literature, especially in communicating. To communicate to each other may be done by a means, such as by a letter, speaking directly, by phone etc. Even something they wrote or said, no matter what its content, could be called a literature. Well, in this life, in purpose or not in purpose, they have involved in a literature. Endah Tri Priyatni argued (2010: 12) that literature is an expression that relates to real people's lives either imaginary or fictional. In this case, literature is the representation of a reflection of society. George Luke (Taum in Wikipedia 2009) agreed that literature is a mirror that gives us a reflection of a greater reality, more complete, more alive, and better. Although the literature is imaginary, but the contents therein still makes sense and it contains the truth Altenbernd and Lewis quoted by Nurgiyantoro (1995: 2). In this case, as the author suggests in his reality based on experience

17 10 and observations on life. However, it is done selectively and formed in accordance with the objectives which also incorporates elements of entertainment and informational of the human experience, Endah Tri Priyatni (2010: 13). According to Moleong as quoted by Spadlex (2000:13) explained that literature is the knowledge which is earned by human beings arise conduct and it is used to reflect and express experience. Wellek and Warren (1962: 20) defined literature as everything in print. According to Koesnosoebroto (1988: 10), people read literature because of hunger of information or amusement or solace because an appetite for truth that seem to grow by what it feeds on. Men read to discover themselves and their world to assess their special roles in the universe, to learn the meaning of the personal struggles in which they are engaged. In other words, we want to share experience. Literature expands language awareness. Asking learners to examine sophisticated or non standard examples of language (which can occur in literary texts) makes them more aware of the norms of language use (Widdowson quoted by Lazar 1993). Literature is all the writing of a country, writing distinguished for beauty of from expression as distinct from works dealing with positive knowledge, Nandi (1996: 127). Another opinion also states that literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material, Kennedy and Gioia (1998: 98). Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction, Kennedy and Gioia (1998: 99). In a literary sense, though, the word ambiguity is used to describe an unlimited number of possible meanings in a text. This ambiguity is not a sin as it might be if you were drawing up a legal document for instance but a positive and necessary virtue of texts which are re-interpreted each time they are read, Beard (2001: 55).

18 11 Based on some explanations mentioned above, different from Moleong s opinion and explanation of existing in Longman Dictionary about literature, DiYanni (2002: 31) explained that literature is designed to involve students in the twin acts of reading and analysis. Burto, Sarman, and Burnet (1963: 3) clarified more about literature. They give a glance of literature by putting three classifications of the nature of literature which can be called, imitative, expressive and affective theories. 1. The Imitative Theory The imitative theory holds that art is an imitation of something. That strategy is an imitation of an action that is serious and complete. The imitative theory often includes the notion that art gives us not only pleasure but also knowledge, insight into the nature of reality. 2. The Expressive Theory The Expressive theory holds that the artist is not essentially an imitator but a man who expresses his feeling two quotations from William Wordsworth will make this theory clearly. The work of art is not an imitation of the external world but an expression of the internal world, the embodiment of an emotion. 3. The Affective Theory The affective theory holds that a work of art ought to arouse a particular emotion, an effect, in the perceiver: the artist allegedly expresses his emotion, embodying it in a work of art, and this work evokes in the perceiver a similar or identical emotion. According to Rampa (1986: 139) there are two types of literature; they are imaginative type and non-imaginative type. Imaginative type consists of poetry or poem, fiction, and drama. And non-imaginative type consists of essay, criticism biography, autobiography, history, memoir, diary, and letters. Imaginative type is commonly using connotative sentence to express an idea,

19 12 while non-imaginative type is more realistic than the imaginative one. It uses denotative sentence. Different from Rampa and Sutarno, Sumardjo and Saini (1986: 18) explained that imaginative literature consists of poem and prose. And In this paper, the writer takes a poem as an object that will be further analyzed. The writer of literature is much more concerned with the connotations, the ways in which he can suggest color or movement or character. The poem, whose work is said to represent the highest form of literature, is most of all concerned with the connotations of words, Burgess (1950: 7). Burgess (1950:7) argued that the writer of literature, especially the poem, differs from the scientist or lawyer in not restricting his words. The scientist has to make his word mean one thing and one thing only, so does the lawyer. In other hand explains that the kinds of literature consist of poem, prose, and drama, Sutarno (2008: 66-67). Based on the some explanations above, it can be concluded that literature is not only learnt to get pleasure, but also to gain moral values and to get an exposition to cultural background of a country. From the various studies that have been done before though have the same strategy that analyzes poetry, but the goals and problem formulation used in this study differ. It is necessary to know why people study literature. There are some reasons that cause people to learn literature. As explained by Koesnosoebroto (1988: 10) that the readers study literary works because they want to learn about another country, to appear well educated, to pass the examination and to make themselves better people. 2. The Purposes of Literature Every author has the purpose or the specific intent of his work; neither does the litterateur in his works. The purpose of literature is in order to readers can enjoy, appreciate, and also appreciate the beauty of the elements exposed in literary texts. People use language for various purposes in different forms of writing. They discuss and write a variety of issues such as family, politics,

20 13 environment, women, education and soon. Prose poems, dramas and other literary works use language in written form, they are called literature. There are many purposes and kinds of literature that explained by some experts. One of them is; according to Karrie Rampa quoted from Nasution and Armis (1986: 139), said that literature has many functions, such as: ethics, educative, consultative, creative and re-creative. Saadie (1997: 8) stated that: Tujuan dari pembelajaran kesasteraan adalah dimaksudkan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan siswa dalam mempersiapkan karya sastra. Kegiatan mengekspresikan sastra berkaitan erat dengan latihan, mempertajam penalaran, dan daya khayal, serta kepekaan terhadap masyarakat, budaya dan lingkungan hidup. (The purpose of literature learning is intended to improve the students ability in expressing the work of art. The activity to express literature is closely related to the activity to sharpen feeling intelligence and the power of imaginations, and also the sense towards social culture and leaving environment). Endah Tri Priyatni (2010: 21) explained that the purpose of literature is to give pleasure or enjoyment to the reader. Sometimes by reading the literature, it would appear the tensions and the tension that will be obtained from the aesthetic pleasure that is active. A literary work must be entertaining; the points here is more on the inner satisfaction when following the storyline or enjoy the beauty of the use of language in describing the aspects of life. Literature also serves to benefit spiritually. By reading literature, we gain deep insight about human problems, social, intellectual or a special way, Luxemburg, et al (1989: 90). But different in Herman, J. Waluyo (2006: 60), he stated that literature serves as a vehicle for catharsis, the enlightenment spirit or soul awareness to society or to the individual limitations that often goes against the position of God.

21 14 3. The Importance of Literature In English major is not only entails more than just being able to read and write well, but also must strive to understand and interpret the importance that various forms of literature have had on the society of the past and the present. According to Conroy (2000: 10) that all forms of literature are important in learning English because literature is a central part of many lives. It offers not only a chance to enlighten a person, but it also gives the chance to broaden one s horizons and English perspectives. Hendrix (2001:11) argued that a work of literature as a way to understand the time it was written. In English learning, people study literature to discover and to learn about ideas in English and write it to cultivate their own ideas. According to Travis (2000), all literature shares the common theme of the idea. Ideas explore, probe, inquire, and inspire. The reactions to such are all that become a part of the English learning process. There is a great deal that literature can teach. He is also explains that the importance of literature in English can teach to the individual in understanding a work of literature in English. It also can create emotion and warn someone against many human faults. It can attempt to disprove other ideas or attempt to find truth. A literature forms an important part of a modern language, but we know that most candidates will not have studied literature formally before in the language for which they are applying. What we want to know is not that they have read a certain number of texts to prove their interest, but that they have the aptitude for studying texts. It means that they are able to think carefully and imaginatively about whatever they have chance to read the poems that is interested them, in any languages. A literature has different branches, and some branches do more exploiting of words than others. The poems relies most on the power of words, on their manifold suggestiveness, and in a sense you may say that poem is the most literary of all branches of literature; the most literary because it makes the greatest use of the raw material of literature, which are words.

22 15 B. The Nature of Poems 1. The Definition of Poem Like has been explained previously, that literature is divided into three genres namely, play, prose, and poem. It is becoming an interesting and useful discussion if it is started by scrutinizing some definitions and information related with poem. Longman dictionary (2003: 1085) writes that poem is a piece of writing arranged in patterns of lines and sounds which often rhyme, expressing thoughts, emotions, and experience in words that exited your imagination. Poem is known as a kind of literature work that rather difficult to be understand than others because the poem is a possessed creative, not using language in the way that normal human being do. A poem is one of literature branches that using words as a massage media to produce illusion and imagination. According to Shanker (1966: 11) poem is the direct of man s need to communicate both inner and outer experience. Perrine (1974: 553) defined that poetry is a kind of language that says more and says it more intensely that ordinary language. Barnet, Burman and Bruto (1963: 306) quoted of Wordsworth s theory states that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. It takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquility gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, it is gradually produced, and does itself actually next in the mind. Horman (2003: 10) defined poetry as language used in a special way and for a special purpose beyond immediate practicalities. Jones (1968: 100) also stated that poetry, you see, tries to exit our imagination. Like short stories and novels, prose expresses truth, but poetry expresses truth through imagination more than prose does. The thought in poetry is not hidden, but we grasp it through suggestion, which is often more pleasurable than grasping it through reason. According to Attarsemi (2009: 930) stated that an art and poetry cannot do without one another, from some

23 16 experts, their definition is different from one another. A skilful and careful use of grammatical patterns is a key starting point for recognizing significant meanings in the poem and that such analysis can provide a basis for further exploration and interpretation, Carter and Goddard (2001: ). According to Asmaul Khusnah in her paper (2008: 38) stated that Poem is form of literature that encompasses a great of emotions, feeling, or desire. Poem can be written for different reasons and there for each poem has a different purpose. Some poems are written purely, to certain us, others solely for the purpose of moral persuasion. There are two aspects of reading poem. One is the nature of the genre itself. This has involved looking at such things as: the importance of titles, openings and endings; connotation; the role of a persona narrating a poem; the way syntax and structure can affect the reading of a poem, Beard (2001: 72). The second major focus has been on the importance of ambiguity in a reading, rather than certainty. Based on his thought, the part of this ambiguity comes from the tension between the way a text can be read as belonging to the time it was written, but at the same time requiring a response from a modern reader. When people interpret a poem, we concern ourselves less with how it affects us than with it means or suggest. Interpretation relies on our intellectual comprehension and rational understanding rather than on our emotional apprehension and response, DiYanni (2002: 672). According to Beard (2001: 55) in his book by the title Texts and Contexts, Introducing Literature and Language Study explained that unlike novels, most poems are relatively brief and can be read quickly, they can also be re-read. These readings can be both private and public. He is also explains that reading a poem silently creates a different impact than reading it aloud, while hearing it read aloud by someone else is different again. Hearing the poem read to you alone is different from hearing it read to a group, where you may well be influenced by the reactions of others, Bleaney quoted by Beard (2001: 55).

24 17 Thus, from the some explanations about, we can conclude that a poem is an ambiguity language, which has multiple meaning. But to determine meaning cannot do mistakenly. 2. The Elements of Poem There are several elements of poems such as imagery, rhythm, theme, and sound. The writer will present it to explain that it is important to the students or readers in knowing about the elements of poem. In order to they can differentiate among each other. a. Imagery According to Siswantoro (2002: 51) informed that there are five various kinds of imageries, as follows: Visual imagery, auditory imagery, internal situation, and olfactory imagery. b. Rhythm The next element of poem which is important to know for making a great poem is rhythm. According to Attarsemi (2002: 120) explained that rhythm is a gesture arrangement, the sequence of repetition sound and causing the sound variations which create the living gesture. Rhythm in language is the changes of going up and down, long and short, hard and soft of the speech language sound. Rhythm cannot be separated or leave on from poems Actually, rhythm relates with music. In order that, when poetry withers and dries of music because the poetry is not interesting in music, but it may coos to their works. Perhaps the reader is not too interesting to read the work of art, or the reader will be found by some difficulties in comprehending the meaning. Besides that, Siswantoro (2002: 61) informed that rhythm is repetitions of sound that causing the sound of melody patterns. Based on the some discussions above, the writer can conclude that the poem should have knowledge about rhythm, because it is not only giving contributions to the reader to know the meaning but also the reader may get the messages of that poem.

25 18 c. Rhyme According to Jones (1968: 97) stated that rhyme is closely related to sound. Usually, rhyme is the repetition of sound of the last word in two or more lines of poetry, in this case, the Jones s opinion almost same with Siswantoro s opinion. d. Theme The other element of poem that also important to be known is a theme. Edward (1968: 99) had a notion that a theme may set forth the poems views on a subject. e. Sound And the last element of poem is a sound. Sound is also available. It can be called as an important element that cannot be ignored. Besides a poem has some elements, according to Richards (1986: 9) it is also has two elements, they are intrinsic element and extrinsic element. The first element is intrinsic element. According to him, the essence of poem consists of 1) theme; sense, 2) feeling, 3) tone, and 4) aim; intention. The fourth of element is intrinsic element that is very closely related on each other. The second element is extrinsic element. It is the structure or the method of poetry, a poem different from other literature forms. A poem is very emphasizing diction, imagery, figurative language, rhythm, and also rhyme. To understand a poem goodly and aright, it need some principles and instructions that should be apply. Esten (1995:32) clarified about the principles and instructions which can help understanding process on the poem quickly. One of them is (1) attention title of poem; (2) see the dominant words; (3) understand the connotative meaning; (4) search and find the hidden meaning. Therefore, every poem consists of some elements and also includes subject matter. Besides that, it is also should has a meaning. Although perhaps in the poems, the experts use meaning is vague or indistinct, because possibility the authors use figurative language ingeniously.

26 19 To emphasize the significance of poem without reducing the aesthetics of poem, the author uses rhetoric means. A mean rhetoric is generally a figure of speech or something meaningful straight forward. 3. The Kinds of Poem According to some experts of literature, there are many kinds of poem. One of them is DiYanni (2002: 682). In her book, she explained that poems are classified as narrative or lyric. Narrative poems stress story and action, and lyric poems stress song and emotion. From each of these types have numerous subdivisions, they are: narrative poems includes the epic, romance, and ballad; while narrative poems includes the elegy and epigraph, sonnet and sestina, aubade and villanelle. Each type of poems that will be explained as follows: a. Narrative poem Narrative poem consists of epic, romance, and ballad. Firstly, epic is long narrative poems that record the adventures of someone whose exploits are important to the history of a nation DiYanni (2002: 682). She also explained that the style of epic is as grand as the action; the conventions require that the epic be formal, complex, and serious. Secondly is romance. In which adventure is a central feature. The plots of romances tend to be complex, with surprising and even magical actions common. And the last type of narrative poem is ballad. It is perhaps the most popular form of narrative poem. Originally ballads were meant to be sung or recited. Folk ballads were passed on orally, only to be written down much later, DiYanni (2002: 683). b. Lyric poem Lyric poem is typically characterized by brevity, melody, and emotional intensity, DiYanni (2002: 684). The forms of lyric poetry range from the epigram, a brief witty poem that is often satirical. It is also includes the ode, a long stately poem in stanzas of varied length, meter, and form; and aubade, a love lyric expressing complaint that dawn means the speaker must part from his lover. The sestina requires a strict pattern of repetition of six key words that end the lines of the first stanza. And the

27 20 last is villanelle, which also relies heavily on repetition, is composed of five three-line tercets and a final four-line quatrain, DiYanni (2002: 685). C. The Nature of Figurative Language 1. The Definition of Figurative Language In Literature, there are many perceptions about figurative language. McArthur (1992: 402) explained that figurative language is the language in which figures of speech such as metaphors freely occur. He is also states that figures of speech are a rhetorical device using words in distinctive ways to achieve a special effect. Figurative language is sequences of standard words are used by the user language, to achieve the meaning or special effects, Abrams (1999: 96). According to him, figures are sometimes described as a primarily poetic; it is to integrate the function of language and is necessary for the capital discourses. According to Dian Siti Khodijah in her paper (2010: 2) mentioned that figurative language is categorized as the implied meaning, because the words used in figurative language is not the real meaning but it is the connotative meaning. She is also explains that it is language whit it s literally in compatible term forces the readers to attend connotation rather than to the denotation. Figurative language is a word or phrase that departs from everyday literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness. Metaphor and simile are the two must common examples of figurative language, but figurative language is also includes hyperbole, synecdoche, puns, and personification, among other (Ginny Wiehardt, About.com). Figurative language is language which departs from the straight-forward use of words. It creates a special effect, clarifies an idea, and makes writing more colorful and forceful, Giroux and Williston (1974: 10). Figurative language is also knows as figure of speech, rhetorical figure, and metaphorical language, Elder (2004: 294). According to Elder, Figures of

28 21 speech or figurative language, it is that compares-paint a picture in people s mind. They are different names for the same thing. Figurative language is that such uses have a poetic function in the sense of Jakobson (1996: 15): they focus on the message for its own sake, and increase the fundamental dichotomy of signs and objects. Accordingly, language that is poetic does not just represent things in the world, nor does it merely express some kind of affective or interpersonal meaning (Halliday 1996; Jakobson 1996; Bühler 1982). The forms of expression, such as art, make use of the human symbolic ability, which relies upon the conceptual system; it follows that artistic expression must reflect the nature of human embodiment, and thus bodily experience, Evans and Zinken (2006:11). One way in which art manifests itself is through language, particularly literary language. Here we will be concerned with one form that literary language takes, namely figurative language. Based on some explanations above, we can conclude that figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. When a writer uses literal language, he or she is simply stating the facts as they are. Figurative language is used in any form of communication, such as in daily conversation, articles in newspaper, advertisements, novels, poems, etc, but it is very common in poetry, but is also used in prose and nonfiction writing as well. 2. The Characteristics of Figurative Language The most important characteristic of figurative language is used in poems is that it makes poems easier to read. According to Perrine (1982: 118), there are four characteristic of figurative language. First, figurative language affords readers imaginative pleasure of literary works. Second, it is a way of bringing additional imagery into verse, making the abstract concrete, making literary works more sensuous. The third, figurative is a way of adding emotional intensity to otherwise merely informative statements and conveying

29 22 attitudes along with information. And the last, it is a way of saying much in brief compass. There are two general categories of figurative language: 1) tropes, which are to do with meaning variations in the use of lexemes and multi-word language constructions and 2) schemes, which concern the repetition of phonological, syntactic, and lexical forms, Arvius (2003: 190). By using figurative language, the writers can evoke emotion and imagery from their writing that literal language just cannot provide. Thus, figurative language makes expressing meaning through writing easier and more relatable to the reader. 3. The Kinds of Figurative Language Based on many experts, there are many kinds of figurative language. In this study, the writer only will discuss some of them they are eleven types of figurative language. The description of the figurative expressions below is derived from Hotben D. Lingga (2006), Barnet, Berman, and Burto (1963), Giroux (1974), McArthur (1992), Keraf (2002), and Sylvan B. MB, WB (1963), will be presented in alphabetical order for some practicality. a. Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of the first letters or sounds in words. The figure of speech is used to create special effects or establish a particular mood or feeling, Giroux (1974: 14). For examples: 1) The sweet of bitter bark and burning clove. 2) The slow sea rises and the sheer cliff crumbles. b. Hyperbole/Overstatement Hyperbole is exaggeration of a statement, usually deliberate and not meant to be taken literally, Hotben D. Lingga (2006: 286). For examples: 1) Let s have dinner, I am starving => very hungry. 2) When she was in Paris, she spent ton of money => a lot of money.

30 23 c. Irony Irony is the use words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea, Barnet (1963: 34). For examples: 1) A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets. 2) Someone says to his friend you are very slim whereas the fact is that his friend is very fat. The types of Irony: a) Verbal irony, it is a disparity of expression and intention when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect. b) Dramatic irony, it is a disparity of expression and awareness when words and actions possess significance that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not. Situational irony, it is the disparity of intention and result, when result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. For example: Launder becomes a dirty word. d. Litotes/Understatement Litotes is emphasizing the magnitude of a statement by denying its opposite, Hotben D. Lingga (2006: 287). For examples: 1) Gosh there's not much money there. 2) Johnny wasn't exactly a good neighbor. e. Metaphor A metaphor asserts the identity, without a connective such as like or a verb as appears, of terms that are literally incompatible Barnet, Berman, and Burto (1963: 334).

31 24 For examples: 1) You are what you eat. 2) My home is heaven. f. Metonymy In metonymy, something is named that replaces something closely related to it. Metonymy is also the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to thing around it, such as describing someone s clothing to characterize the individual, Barnet, Berman, and Burto (1963: 335). For examples: 1) He bought a Chevrolet (Chevrolet is used to mean a car). 2) The kettle is boiling (the kettle is used in a figurative sense to mean water). g. Paradox Paradox is a term in rhetoric for a situation or statement that is or seems self-contradictory and even absurd, but may contain an insight into life, McArthur (1996: 348). For examples: 1) The child is father of the man (the nature of one s earlier life affects later ideas and attitude). 2) Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded. h. Personification Personification is the assigning of human characteristics to non humans, Keraf (2002: 22). For examples: 1) The trees are waving to the tiger. 2) The moon smiles at us. i. Pun According to Sylvan B. MB, WB (1963: 34), defines that pun is a play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.

32 25 For examples: 1) When it rains, it pours. 2) Golden lads and girls all must, / as chimney sweepers, come to dust. j. Simile Simile is a figure of speech, in which a more or less fanciful or unrealistic comparison is made, using like or as (McArthur, 1996:935). For examples: 1) She is like a fish out of water => She is uneasy in an unfamiliar situation. 2) You re not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop, aren t you? => A person who is clumsy, careless or move in a very awkward way. k. Synecdoche It is the whole is replaced by the part or the part by the whole Barnet, Berman, and Burto (1963: 335). For examples: 1) His word can be trusted => He is a person that can be trusted. 2) I won t let him come under my roof => I won t let him come to my house. D. Biography of William Blake Picture 2.1 Photo of William Blake